Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Return to Work”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Recent findings on return to work after an acute myocardial infarction or coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVE: To examine during recent years the rate of work resumption after an acute myocardial infarction or coronary artery bypass surgery, and to analyse variables that predicted return to work. SETTING: Referral centre for cardiac rehabilitation at the university hospital in Gent. PATIENTS: 227 consecutive patients (90 after a first AMI; 137 after a first CABG) were selected for participation. All patients were less than 60 years old and in a social state that still allowed return to work. During hospitalisation, a set of questionnaires, validated as well as self-developed, was presented, measuring psychological and social variables. Medical variables were collected from the medical records. One year later, a follow-up questionnaire was sent by mail, measuring return to work, reasons for not returning, morbidity, and psychological well-being. RESULTS: Return to work was observed in 185/222 (83.3%) of the total study group; 75/86 (87.2%) of the AMI patients and 110/136 (80.8%) of the CABG patients. The mean delay for return to work was 14.8 weeks. After one year, patients who returned to work, showed more positive affect, less negative affect, less somatic complaints and less cognitive complaints. This better psychological profile was not affected by the morbidity score. Variables predicting return to work in CABG patients were different from those in AMI patients. Only two medical variables could be retained in CABG patients (good left venticular function and a larger degree of revascularisation). Mainly psychological variables had predictive power (trust, job security, positive expectations concerning return, no attribution to stress, less somatic complaints, less physical exertion of the job). CONCLUSIONS: Return to work remains one of the main issues in cardiac rehabilitation after AMI or CABG. If resumption is sufficiently emphasized, a high success rate can be achieved. This approach should include a psychosocial strategy starting already during hospitalisation.

Coronary Artery Bypass↗
PubMed2005

Functional capacity evaluation performance does not predict sustained return to work in claimants with chronic back pain.

OBJECTIVES: Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) is used to determine return-to-work readiness. We investigated the ability of the Isernhagen Work Systems' FCE to predict sustained return-to-work and future pain and disability in workers' compensation claimants with chronic back pain. METHODS: Prospective study of 130 claimants undergoing FCE for chronic back problems. FCE indicators included number of failed tasks and floor-to-waist lift weight. Recovery indicators included days to suspension of time-loss benefits and future recurrence. Subjects were contacted after one year to determine pain intensity and disability. Analysis included Cox and logistic regression. RESULTS: Fewer failed tasks (HRR 0.94 (0.91-0.98) and higher floor-to-waist lift (HRR 1.38 (1.17-1.62) were associated with faster return-to-work. FCE was not associated with future recurrence, or reported pain intensity, or disability in subjects reached for follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Better FCE performance was mildly associated with indicators of faster return-to-work. However, FCE is not related to recurrent back problems, future pain intensity, or self-reported disability.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Relationships among lifting ability, grip force, and return to work.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The relationship between functional capacity evaluation (FCE) data and work disability has not been studied. The validity of FCE testing results in terms of subsequent return to work (RTW) was the focus of this exploratory study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Six hundred fifty adults of working age were evaluated as part of a standardized FCE. Clients were contacted by telephone 6 months after the FCE to determine their work status. Predictor variables were gender, age, time off work, maximum safe loads during 3 dynamic lifts, and isometric grip force. Other variables measured were whether or not the client returned to work (RTW-Y/N) and level of return to work (RTW level). RESULTS: A multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the more time a worker was away from work, the less likely was RTW. Male subjects were less likely to return to work than female subjects. The more weight lifted from floor to waist, the more likely was RTW. The logistic regression equation correctly classified 80.3% of the subjects who returned to work and 56.6% of the subjects who did not return to work. Each of the 3 lift tests was related to RTW level, whereas the grip force tests were not related to either RTW-Y/N or RTW level. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Time off work and gender were the strongest predictors of RTW, but certain FCE subtests of lifting were related to RTW and RTW level for people with work-related chronic symptoms. Grip force was not related to RTW.

Adult↗
PubMed2007

Neuropsychiatric predictors of return to work in HIV/AIDS.

This study followed 118 HIV+ individuals who had taken steps to return to work to determine facilitators or barriers in returning to work. Over the two-year study period, 52% of the participants obtained employment. Memory function served as the most potent predictor of obtaining employment. Persons who were younger, did not have a diagnosis of AIDS and who had shorter periods of unemployment prior to entering the study also had better chances of finding employment during the study. After finding employment, participants reported lower levels of depression as well, an apparent result of their obtaining employment. These findings indicate that memory is a key neuropsychiatric variable that is perhaps most relevant to HIV+ persons' quest to return to work.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2004

Return to work after thoracic surgery: an overlooked outcome measure in quality-of-life studies.

In the literature on thoracic surgery, return to work has received little attention in QOL investigations. At present, it is difficult to appreciate clinically meaningful trends in return to work after thoracic surgery, even within a specialized area, such as lung cancer resection. It is evident, however, that return to work is not a simple variable, easily measured; rather, it is a complex construct that is influenced by a multitude of personal and societal factors. Focusing only on disease-related or treatment-related symptoms renders QOL studies limited in scope and perhaps in usefulness. Return to work is not a trivial component of global postsurgical QOL; it should be recognized as a major factor. Patients have indicated that maintaining return-to-work ability is as highly valued as their overall health. Surgical societies should design, validate, and implement a simple data collection instrument to characterize better return to work after thoracic surgery.

Employment↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Return to work after burn injury.

The research literature suggests but does not test the hypothesis that differential factors determine when a patient will return to work after serious burn injury. In this study, factors influencing time before return to work after serious burn injury were investigated prospectively as part of a large burn research project. Sixty-five patients with burns who had returned to work were followed. Several variables were examined, including percent total body surface area burned, total percent of partial-thickness burn, total percent of full-thickness burn, duration of treatment, payment source for treatment, sex, race, type of burn, and age. The most significant predictor of time before return to work was percent total body surface area burned, followed by percent body surface area with full-thickness burns, percent body surface area with partial-thickness burns, and number of weeks of treatment, respectively. Sufficient data were available to develop a regression equation to specifically predict time before return to work. The data presented here are useful in informing patients, families, employers, and health-funding agencies as to the probable delay before return to work that can be expected after serious burn injury. In particular, predictability refinements are possible with the regression equation developed in this study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Chiropractors and return-to-work: the experiences of three Canadian focus groups.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the views of chiropractors about timely return-to-work in treating patients with musculoskeletal injuries, to identify the approaches used by chiropractors when treating injured workers with musculoskeletal disorders, and to learn about chiropractors' perspectives on the barriers and facilitators of successful return-to-work. DESIGN: Qualitative study of 3 focus groups of chiropractors. METHODS: Focus groups of 8 to 11 chiropractors were conducted in 3 large Canadian cities. The selected participants were experienced in treating patients with occupational musculoskeletal injuries. Standard questions were used to collect data. The data from each focus group were coded and analyzed separately and then considered in relation to each other. RESULTS: The participants indicated that timely return-to-work depends on patients' characteristics, severity of injury, clinical progress, the availability of work accommodation, and clinical judgment. The chiropractors commented that their treatment of injured workers rests on their strength in diagnosis and treatment and on providing patient-centered care. Positive human relations within workplaces and the ability to accommodate the work of an injured worker were described as important in return-to-work programs. The participants believed that a bias against chiropractic is present within the medical profession and workers' compensation boards. They viewed this bias as an important barrier when assisting their patients to successfully return to work. CONCLUSION: The broad approaches described by the participating chiropractors to return injured workers to work are consistent with those proposed in evidence-based practice guidelines. Better communication among chiropractors, medical doctors, and workers' compensation boards would likely decrease interprofessional tensions and improve the recovery of workers with musculoskeletal injuries.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Predicting return to work for lower back pain patients receiving worker's compensation.

The results of a prospective study of 134 patients with lower back pain suggest that nonorganic factors are better predictors of return to work than organic findings. Patients who returned to work had fewer job, personal, or family related problems. There were no significant differences between patients who returned to work and those who did not when comparing myelograms, computed tomographic scans, or roentgenographs. The only significant difference in physical organic findings was for muscle atrophy. Patients who did not return to work had a statistically higher incidence rate of muscle atrophy. Length of time off from work was significantly related to outcome, but when patients were categorized according to time off the job, different factors predicted failure to return for patients off work for less than 6 months and patients off for more than 6 months. For patients off for less than 6 months, important predictors were a high Oswestry score, history of leg pain, family relocation, short tenure on the job, verbal magnification of pain, reports of moderate to severe pain on superficial palpation, and positive reaction to a "sham" sciatic tension test. None of these was a significant predictor for the group off for more than 6 months. For the group off work for more than 6 months, previous injuries, and stability of family living arrangements were among the significant predictors not significant for the group off less than 6 months. Using 21 factors selected from a larger group of 92 factors, three statistically significant (P less than or equal to 0.001) predictive measures were developed. These measures predicted return to work for the total sample, and for the two subgroups (off more than, or less than 6 months) more accurately than did the total set of 92 factors.

Back Pain↗
PubMed1996

Factors influencing the return to work of patients after hip replacement and rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of medical and sociocultural factors on the return to work of patients after hip replacement and rehabilitation treatment. DESIGN: Case review. Frequency and association of variables' analysis. SETTING: The rehabilitation unit of a general hospital in Oviedo (Spain). This setting is a part of an institutional referral center and is the only state-owned hospital that provides rehabilitation treatment for hospitalized patients from a rural and urban area of about 1,000,000 inhabitants. PATIENTS: 747 patients of both sexes, all of them working before receiving treatment, age range 18 to 64 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Relationship of several variables: age, sex, habitat, level of education, type of work, underlying illness, walking ability, pain, and type of social security versus return to work. RESULTS: At discharge, 25% of patients return to work. There is a significant association (p < .001) between return to work and any of the following variables: underlying illness, kind of work, walking ability, habitat, and educational level. CONCLUSION: This physiopathology of symptoms and signs of the patients is not the unique indicator of whether a person will continue working after hip replacement and rehabilitation treatment. Extramedical factors, such as social status, kind of work, and cultural background, are very influential.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Prediction of return-to-work of low back pain patients sicklisted for 3-4 months.

The purpose of this Dutch prospective population-based study was to identify prognostic factors for return-to-work of employees with 3-4 months sick leave due to low back pain (LBP). A cohort of 328 employees was formed and baseline data were collected. One year after the first day of the sick leave, 91% of the original cohort participated in a second interview (n=298). During the baseline measurement, information was collected about health status, history of LBP, occupational variables, job characteristics and social economic variables. At the second interview, 66% of the employees had returned to work (n=198). Return-to-work was independently predicted by having a better general health status (OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.30-1.80), having better job satisfaction (OR 1.26; 95% CI 1.11-1. 44), being a bread winner (OR 2.46; 95% CI 1.37-4.40), having a lower age (OR 0.70; 95% CI 0.52-0.93) and reporting less pain (OR 0. 85; 95% CI 0.73-0.99) all measured at cohort entry. This study shows that psycho-social aspects of health and work in combination with economic aspects have a significantly larger impact on return-to-work when compared to relatively more physical aspects of disability and physical requirements of the job. This suggests that interventions aimed at return-to-work of employees sicklisted with LBP should predominantly be focused on these psycho-social aspects such as health behavior and job satisfaction, and on the (lack of) economic incentives for return-to-work.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The error of using returns-to-work to measure the outcomes of health care.

This article uses data from The Survey of Ontario Workers With Permanent Impairments. the world's largest survey of injured workers, to show that, as currently used, return-to-work is a misleading measure of the effectiveness of health care. The article discusses examples of two serious limitations on the use of return-to-work to measure the outcomes of health care, where health care refers to all the medical and rehabilitative services provided to a worker following a workplace injury. The first limitation is that return-to-work, like many other outcomes of health care, is influenced by factors that are not directly related to health care. Using a logit model to estimate the determinants of first absences from work after an injury, we find that socioeconomic characteristics, economic incentives, and job characteristics have a significant influence on return-to-work. The second limitation on return-to-work as an outcome measure is that the first return-to-work after an injury, like a hospital discharge, frequently marks the end of only the first of several episodes of work disability caused by the original injury. Using first post-injury returns-to-work as a proxy for recovery, we would assume that 85% of the Ontario workers recovered from their injury when, in fact, 61% had subsequent spells of work disability. We identified four mutually exclusive patterns of post-injury work and work disability. Multinomial logit estimates of the determinants of the patterns show that health care is only one of several influences on return-to-work. The results also demonstrate that if return-to-work is used to measure outcomes, it must be evaluated over a time horizon that permits multiple spells of work disability.

Bias↗
PubMed1997

Predictors of return to work following carpal tunnel release.

Little is known about factors that predict return to work following carpal tunnel release. Patients enrolled in a prospective, community-based study of carpal tunnel syndrome in Maine were evaluated with standardized questionnaires preoperatively and 6 months following carpal tunnel release. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify baseline factors associated with work disability 6 months following surgery. Thirty-one of 135 patients (23%) were out of work because of CTS 6 months following surgery. The predominant preoperative variables associated with work absence due to CTS 6 months postoperatively in logistic regression analyses were Workers' Compensation, work absence preoperatively, and worse mental health status (p < or = 0.01 for each). In analyses that considered postoperative as well as preoperative variables, persistence of symptoms following surgery was the most striking predictor of failure to return to work due to CTS (p < 0.0001). Preoperative correlates of less complete relief of symptoms in multivariate models included involvement of an attorney, milder preoperative symptom severity, preoperative work absence (p < 0.005 for each) and exposure to hand intensive work (p = 0.04). These data indicate that economic and psychosocial variables have a strong influence upon both return to work and the extent of symptom relief 6 months following surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Indicators for return to work after stroke and the importance of work for subjective well-being and life satisfaction.

OBJECTIVES: This study focuses on the continuation of gainful employment after experiencing stroke, addressing factors indicative of readiness for return to work, subjective well-being and life satisfaction. METHODS: The target group comprised 120 patients, studied by means of medical records and postal questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 41% had returned to work, although there were changes concerning employers, assignments and working hours. Individuals who had returned to work reported a significantly higher level in subjective well-being and life satisfaction. Being able to walk meant the greatest chance of returning to work (odds ratio = 3.98) followed by white-collar worker (odds ratio = 2.99) and having preserved cognitive capacity (odds ratio = 2.64). CONCLUSION: Returning to work after stroke is a major factor for high subjective well-being and life satisfaction. Three factors indicative of readiness for return to work were identified, providing implications for more efficient vocational rehabilitation programmes.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Return to work within the first seven years of severe head injury.

The rate and prediction of return to work was examined in 98 severely head injured patients during the first seven years after injury. The employment rate dropped from 86% before injury to 29% after. Younger patients, and those with technical/managerial jobs before injury were more likely to return to work than those over 45 years of age, or in unskilled occupations. Physical deficits were not related to return to work, but the presence of cognitive, behavioural, and personality changes was significantly related to a failure to return to work.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2003

[Return to work after cardiac valvular surgery. Retrospective study of a series of 105 patients].

This was a retrospective study realised by a mailed questionnaire of the medical and socio-professional conditions of return to work in patients with valvular heart disease aged 20 to 59 and operated in the cardiac surgery department of Rennes University Hospital in 1998. The results concern 105 patients of whom 78 were working before surgery and 27 were unemployed, and 53 were professionally active after surgery. The average age was 48 +/- 9 years and the male/female ratio was 2.38. After surgery, 78.4% of patients were NYHA Stages I or II, compared with 38.1% before surgery. Three main surgical procedures were carried out, sometimes in association: aortic valve replacement (71.4%), mitral valve replacement (21%) and mitral valvuloplasty (11.4%). Valve replacement was with a mechanical prosthesis in 83% of cases, a bioprosthesis in 11% of cases and a homograft in 6% of cases. Return to work (67.9%) after an average of 5.3 +/- 3.9 months was correlated with the following factors: age: 50 years old patients or more, were less likely to return to work (p < 0.02); postoperative NYHA stage: patients in stages III and IV were less likely to return to work (p < 0.03); the time off work before surgery: the longer the time (threshold > 6 months) the less likely the patients are to return to work (p < 0.03). Return to work was preferred to non-return (p < 0.03). This study shows the difficulties of professional rehabilitation of patients despite a satisfactory general condition. This is partially explained by the difficult economic context which favorises invalidity but also by the lack of information concerning the role of works doctors in the return to work. The realisation of a liaison file with permission of the person concerned between the general practitioner, the cardiologist and a medico-social security doctor and works doctor should remedy the difficulties in communication and sustain a policy of return to work.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Return to work after comparing outpatient multidisciplinary treatment programs versus treatment in general practice for patients with chronic widespread pain.

Former studies have questioned the quality and effectiveness of multidisciplinary rehabilitation for working-age adults with fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain (CWP). High-quality trials are needed, and return to work should also be included as an outcome variable. This randomized study evaluated the return-to-work outcome of an extensive and a light multidisciplinary treatment program combining cognitive strategies and exercise versus treatment-as-usual initiated by a general practitioner, for CWP patients. The patients (n=208), on sick leave for 3 months on average, were randomized to the extensive program including group sessions, a light and more individual program, and to treatment-as-usual. The number of days absent from work and full return to work were used as an outcome, and follow-up lasted 54 months after the programs ended. The regression analysis showed that the extensive program was associated with significantly fewer days absent from work among women. For women, the mean effect of extensive treatment versus treatment-as-usual on total number of days absent from work was estimated to -206.95 days. Among men, the light program was associated with significantly more days absent from work compared to treatment-as-usual. Both among men and women, independent of type of treatment, patients with poorer health (poor prognosis) were absent from work more days than patients with good prognosis. In our sample, higher age significantly increased the number of days absent from work, but only for women. The extensive outpatient multidisciplinary treatment program was effective in returning women to work.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Predictors of rate of return to work after surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of patient demographics, clinical features, and job-related factors on the time until return to work after carpal tunnel release surgery. METHODS: We employed a cross-sectional community-based study of 59 patients who had undergone carpal tunnel release surgery. Sociodemographic, clinical, and job-related characteristics and time to return to work were obtained by interview and from medical records. Exposure to ergonomic risk was derived from an independently validated job matrix. Time to return to work after surgery was analyzed by survival techniques. RESULTS: Median time to return to work was 5 weeks. After adjustment, the relative rate (RR) of return to work per week after surgery was most strongly decreased by the receipt of workers' compensation, RR 0.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.1-0.5), and by the exposure to bending and twisting of the hand prior to surgery, RR 0.7 (95% CI 0.5-0.9) per hour. Female gender was another predictor of decreased return to work, RR 0.5 (95% CI 0.3-0.8). CONCLUSIONS: Patients receiving workers' compensation, those exposed to higher levels of bending and twisting of their hands and wrists, and women were slower to return to work after carpal tunnel release surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Predictors of return to work in patients sick listed for sub-acute low back pain: a 12-month follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether personal and work-related factors, physical performance and back-specific questionnaires predict return to work. A prospective study identifying prognostic factors for return to work. SUBJECTS: Ninety-three patients sick-listed for 8-12 weeks for non-specific sub-acute low back pain included in a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Patients were examined with regard to demographic variables, a battery of back-specific questionnaires and physical tests before entering a randomized controlled trial. A stepwise backward Cox regression model was established to identify the most powerful predictors. RESULTS: During follow-up 78.5% of the patients have returned to full-time work. Fear-avoidance beliefs for work (relative risk (RR) for 1 SD change 0.49; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.38-0.64), disability (RR 1.39, 95% CI 1.02-1.88) and cardiovascular fitness (RR 1.42, 95% CI 1.12-1.79) were identified as the best predictors for return to work. The prevalence of correct predictions was 69.3%. CONCLUSION: The predictors identified in the present study may reflect personal risk factors in a patient who gets acute low back pain. On the other hand, they may support that fear of pain and injury may be more disabling than pain itself, and that deconditioning is a result of altered behaviour reflecting attitudes towards low back pain in society, and information and advice given in primary healthcare.

Acute Disease↗